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Ratass

Location
(52°15′58″N, 9°41′6″W)
Ratass
Q 85 14
pre-1974 traditional (Republic of Ireland) Kerry
now Kerry
medieval not confirmed
  • Tessa Garton

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Feature Sets
Description

The church has a pre-Romanesque nave with antae and a flat-headed W doorway surrounded by a frame in relief. The chancel was added in the 12thc. The E window is round-headed with a Romanesque moulding. The church was much restored c.1700. There is an ogham stone and an early Christian cross slab in the nave.

History

Ratass was chosen as the Episcopal see of Kerry at the synod of Rathbreasail (1111), but was replaced by Ardfert by 1117 (Gwynn & Hadcock 1970, 95).

Features

Exterior Features

Doorways

Windows

Comments/Opinions

Harbison dates the nave to the 10-11th c. (JKAHS, 1972). The w. doorway is similar to that of Tuamgraney, Clare. Leask suggested that the western part of the church dated from the rebuilding by Abbot Cormac O Killeen who died in 969.

Bibliography
'Proceedings', Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 21, (1891), 622.
A. Gwynn and R. N. Hadcock, Medieval Religious Houses, Ireland, London,1970, 95.
H. G. Leask, Irish Churches and Monastic Buildings, Dundalk 1955 I, 69.
P. Harbison, 'The Building History of Ratass Church', Tralee, Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, 5 (1972), 5-13.